Storage of fuel alcohol

[v8ford]

Hello there, I'm here to ask a few questions if you don't mind and gain some of your knowledge.
I am working on my still and plan to make fuel alcohol.Now From what I have read "pure alcohol" has a flash point of 40 degress ferenhiet and there for storing it uncut would be dangerous above that temp?
So pure alcohol would be classified under 95 proof and above or?
and anyone have any issues with storing it at room temperature say 70-75 degrees or outside right now is averaging 100 degrees ferenhiet.
Also does anyone know how much you can cut alcohol with water and still have good fuel for a motor...
thank you for anyhelp you can give me and I apologize if I sound dumb but still new to this game

[tracker0945]

No expert on the subject but am of the opinion that when you line up at the fuel bowser and the sign says 91, 95 Octane rating what I think they ate saying is 91%, 95%abv.
I could be wrong though.
Cheers.

[theholymackerel]

Nope.

It's a measurement of autoignition resistance.

A gasoline with a measurement of 87 octane is equivalent to a mix of 87% iso-octane and 13% heptane... but this doesn't mean that it's ACTUALLY that ratio, just that it's autoignition restance is of that value.

Iso-octane is given a pure octane ratin' of 100, and heptane is given a value of 0. As ya'll know aviation and racin' fuel has an octane ratin of over one-hundred... and no fuel can be more than 100% of anythin', so ya can clearly see that it's only a relative value. It's simply a measurement of autoignition resistance (or how easy or difficult it is to ignite).


EDIT: (Sorry, I just realised I didn't answer the original questions.) V-8 ford, we can't easily make "pure alcohol" (which alcohol? ethanol?) at home... a carefuly run reflux column will give at best 96% avb. I'd check with yer local authorities to find out the local rules and regulations on storin' fuel. And as to yer "what abv% for fuel" question: most ethonol converted motors run well on 160proof alcohol (80%). The water cools and slighty lubricates.





I wish ya luck.

[v8ford]

I want to thank you guys for stopping by and helping I appreciate it.
Now wanted to ask anyone have problems with storing neutral spirits or high proof likker outside in say 90-100+ ferenhiet degree weather?
or would need to cut it with water for safer storage?
and any experience using or not using nutrients in mash for higher output.
say mash or sugar/fruit or mollases/water

or any luck instead of commercial nutrients using multi vitamins,yogurt,or tomato paste ect persay

thank you again Paul

[theholymackerel]

Howdy.

If all yer plannin' on makin' is fuel, you can do it legally and really should.

Sure would suck to get busted for moonshinin' and tax evasion when ya could have done it legally and have even gotten Tax credits!!!

I suggest ya talk with yer local authorities and find out the regulations on storin' fuel alcohol.

Better safe than sorry.






I wish ya luck.

[eternalfrost]

Howdy.

If all yer plannin' on makin' is fuel, you can do it legally and really should.

how do they tell you are using it for fuel and not drinking?

[Husker]

Howdy.

If all yer plannin' on makin' is fuel, you can do it legally and really should.

how do they tell you are using it for fuel and not drinking?

Because of the smell of the poisons you are required to blend with it right after production (regular unleaded gas at 2% is one govt approved denaturant).

H.

[v8ford]

Well if i was to go bout it legally, then i suppose i would go for a permit and i dont get how i would end up with tax crdits for it....thank u though...

Its peach season and gonna try a few runs with em, now have a question or two, seems as tho guys like to freeze em to break them down,but the peaches are so soft would it make a difference.
and secondly,since i making fuel not drink, can i leave the pitts it when i forment or i still want to remove em...
thanks for your help again Paul

[Tater]

Theres no need to double post your questions on forum . Think you will find out peaches wont be cost effective to make fuel from in farm size operation.

[Dnderhead]

just for giggles a peach has 8.4 g of sugar there's 454 g in lb so it take 54 peaches to make a pound of sugar takes 14lb of sugar to make 1gal of 90%
so it will take 756 peaches to make a gal of 90% Of course this is all estimates . what does a peach way ? 1/4 lb? if so that would be 185 lb of peaches
to make a gallon of 90%

[v8ford]

thank u for your replies and the peach conversion table. I have a few farmer friends and I'm starting to get there old fruit for free...so need to scale up...

[poteen]

as for flash point... this just means the lowest temperature the vapour can produce a flammable mixture with oxygen present this does not mean it will or can ignite at this temp. I believe alcohols flash point is 13~deC compare this to it's boiling point and you get the picture!

[Dnderhead]

Going back to your first ques ton --- -alcohol is stored about the same as gasoline with smaller vent (because of evaporation and the ability to absorb water) mite want to keep in shade/or under ground

[v8ford]

thank U guys for the input, I got the picture now
paul

[Burning Man]

That sounds like the Pitts to me!!

just for giggles a peach has 8.4 g of sugar there's 454 g in lb so it take 54 peaches to make a pound of sugar takes 14lb of sugar to make 1gal of 90%
so it will take 756 peaches to make a gal of 90% Of course this is all estimates . what does a peach way ? 1/4 lb? if so that would be 185 lb of peaches
to make a gallon of 90%

[gigaJoule]

Hello,

My first time posting, but I just wanted to ask a little more about storage issues for fuel alcohol. Will I have any problems storing 80% (or 100% if I can get 3A zeolite), for over a year in plastic (maybe HDPE ones that new fryer oil comes in) containers? Does anyone know what those red portable gasoline/diesel containers are made of and if they'll be fine?

Thank you!

[stilly_bugger]

Going back to your first ques ton --- -alcohol is stored about the same as gasoline with smaller vent (because of evaporation and the ability to absorb water) mite want to keep in shade/or under ground

I have a spare stainless keg with a functioning sankey valve. Both the keg and the valve are in good working order. The keg is rated at 500kpa.

Would it be safe to store high ABV ethanol (95%) in the keg, sealing it with the valve?

I could drill holes in the valve tubing (the bit that dips into the beer to draw it from the bottom of the keg) above the 'waterline' so that manually releasing any built-up pressure (if it needed it) wouldn't result in an ethanol shower.

My concerns are safety (Does high ABV alcohol present a safety risk when stored like this?) and possible damage to the keg (Would storing high ABV ethanol in the keg damage the keg?).

Thanks.

[Dnderhead]

i whould use a relief valve on any "hard" tank.otherwise it be ok.

[Prairiepiss]

I have had two plastic gas cans fail on me with gas in them. Sun exposure and heat exposure will degrade the plastic bad. What's odd is it works faster on the area where the vapor is. One of my kids left my 5 gal can outside half full in full sun. The area where the liquid was changed slightly. But the area where the vapors were turned almost white from red. And got micro cracks all through it. So if you filled it above the color change. It would leak out the surface. Found out the hard way. Went and filled it up. Put it in the back of our suv at the time. It leaked a considerable amount on the way home. Took for ever to get the suv to air out.

If stored inside away from direct sun they last a good few years. But if stored incorrectly won't last a year.